A body has been located off the coast of Whakatāne during the search for a man reported missing after going overboard from a vessel.
Rescuers scoured the coast of Whakaari/White Island on Thursday after the man was reported missing early in the morning.
Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre was notified at 3am, but it's believed the man went overboard sometime between midnight and just before authorities were notified.
“The person was last seen at about midnight,” Maritime NZ said earlier.
In an update, police confirmed a body had been found off the coast of Whakatāne, believe to be the man reported missing.
“The formal identification process is under way to confirm the identity of the man,” syas police.
“Police wish to thank the Rescue Coordination Centre and Coastguard Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki volunteers for their assistance with the search.”
Police earlier said the missing person was one of four on the vessel.
Two Coastguard vessels and several search and rescue helicopters, as well as the police Eagle helicopter, were involved in the search.
The Waikato Westpac rescue helicopter was seen zig-zagging the area early this morning.
Drift modelling calculations developed a search area of about 300 square nautical miles, says Maritime NZ.
Work was being undertaken yesterday morning on further drift modelling to refine the search area.
Police say the man went missing about 10 nautical miles east of White Island/Whakaari.
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